| The recommended food pyramid provides a | | | | The typical food pyramid groups vegetables into |
| simple guide to establishing healthy eating habits. | | | | five groups: |
| The food pyramid was originally established in the | | | | * Dark green: such as broccoli and spinach. |
| 1960s in response to the increase in heart | | | | * Orange: pumpkin and sweet potatoes |
| disease, and to help people understand what it | | | | * Dry beans and peas: navy beans, kidney beans, |
| takes to stay healthy. There are several facets | | | | lentils, tofu |
| of the food pyramid, which help you to analyze | | | | * Starchy vegetables: corn, potatoes, green peas |
| what you are eating and what you need to | | | | * Other vegetables: cabbage, cucumbers, |
| change in order to maintain your healthy eating | | | | eggplant, tomatoes |
| habits. | | | | (Note: While we have given examples of the |
| The base of the pyramid is the bread & | | | | members of each group, it is certainly not an |
| grains group. There are a variety of different | | | | exhaustive list) |
| types of foods that fall into this category. | | | | With fruits, a cup of fruit or fruit juice, or a |
| According to this pyramid, a healthy diet contains | | | | half-cup of dried fruit counts as a serving. |
| six to eleven servings of a breads & grains | | | | Recommendations are one to two servings of |
| per day. An example of a single serving would be | | | | fruit each day. |
| half of a cup of rice, cereal or pasta or one slice | | | | The next part of the food pyramid is the milk |
| of bread. Another thing to consider is the type of | | | | and dairy section. This group includes milk (including |
| grain. The pyramid recommends at least half of | | | | lactose-free), yogurt, cheese and other variations |
| the bread & grains you consume are whole | | | | of this type of product. About three servings per |
| grain, such as whole wheat bread, brown rice, | | | | day is the recommended amount. A typical |
| whole-wheat pasta, or oatmeal. | | | | serving of dairy would be a cup of milk or yogurt, |
| From here, various versions of the pyramid split. | | | | 1½ ounces of natural cheese or two ounces of |
| Some versions pyramids include fruit and | | | | processed cheese. |
| vegetables in a single group, others split them into | | | | Next to last is the meat and beans group. This |
| two groups. For the vegetable category, it is | | | | group contains meat, poultry, fish, eggs, nuts and |
| important to add two to three servings of | | | | dried beans. Choosing low-fat cuts of meat and |
| vegetables to your daily diet. A serving generally | | | | poultry are key to a healthy diet. Five to six |
| consists of a cup of vegetables or vegetable | | | | ounces of mean and beans each day is the |
| juice. It is also key to eat a variety of different | | | | recommended daily intake for this group. |
| types of vegetables over the course of a week. | | | | |